A traveling Holocaust exhibit left Jones County last week, leaving behind its message of tolerance with the more than 2,000 people who experienced it.

The Anne Frank in the World traveling exhibit is now on its way to Ringgold, where it will open September 26. The exhibit, which offers connections to current historical events, was created in 1996, and its goals are to inform the viewer about the history of the Holocaust from the perspective of Anne Frank and her family and to teach the viewer that differences between people exist in all societies.

The exhibit was brought to Jones County August 25 by the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust through the efforts of State Representative Allen Freeman. It opened at the Jones County Civic Center Auditorium August 27 and closed September 13.

Vicki Staley of the Commission on the Holocaust said the Jones County exhibit personified what the commission wants to do with the traveling exhibit.

“Having 2,200 people view this exhibit is beyond our expectations. We are especially excited because of the number of school groups,” Staley commented. “We need to reach young people; they identify with Anne Frank.”

Staley said the message of the exhibit is tolerance, social justice, and fairness.

“I hope people leave with a better understanding of the human race,” she added.

The exhibit will stay in Ringgold until October 6, and then travels to Dublin October 10 through November 1. Its final Georgia destination is Evans from November 7-27 before returning to New York.

“It’s been extremely gratifying to have this in Georgia,” Staley said.

Gray Station Better Hometown manager Pat Daniels said the success of the exhibit was due to more than 75 volunteers.

“Hosting the exhibit has made me realize even more our need for more cultural awareness in our community,” Daniels said. “Glenn Harrell with Wesley Audio made it possible to showcase our underutilized Civic Center Auditorium’s audio capabilities by showing the very informative Anne Frank video on an average of every 30-45 minutes every day of the exhibit. Visitors of all ages traveled from many cities in the Middle Georgia area to see history that does not need repeating.”

Daniels singled out the efforts of Madge Miller, Kema Clark, Evelyn Collins and the Vietnam veterans for their work at the exhibit.

“They were among the many that spent tireless hours coordinating and guiding our out-of-town visitors as well as locals through the displays and video,” she stated. “These volunteers took time from their busy schedules to make this emotional exhibit so available to the public. I cannot begin to thank them enough.”

She added a thank you to Freeman for arranging the exhibit’s stop in Gray.

“Our community always pulls together to get the job done,” Daniels said.

The Georgia Commission on the Holocaust was established to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to present and future generations in order to create an awareness of the enormity of the crimes of prejudice and inhumanity and a vigilance to prevent their recurrence, according to the commission’s website, www.holocaust.georgia.gov.

The stationary exhibit, using over 600 photographs and 8,000 words of text, is located at Kennesaw State University.

In addition to bringing the exhibit to Gray, Freeman orchestrated the ribbon-cutting and opening ceremonies that took place August 27.

“I want to thank all of the volunteers and the contributors that helped make the exhibit possible,” the representative said. “I think we accomplished several things with the exhibit: our community worked together, we were able to show off Jones County and Gray, we were able to show how the Civic Center can be used for more community events and entertainment, and we helped teach a message of understanding and respect for others.

“I was glad to be part of the exhibit, and I hope Jones County can build on the success of the Holocaust exhibit.”